“Comment!” exclaimed one or two voices.  “Is everything to be repeated?”

“Everything, Messieurs et Mesdames,” replied Mueller—­“everything—­without reservation.  I call upon Mdlle.  Rosalie to reveal the secret of Monsieur Philomene.”

MDLLE.  ROSALIE (with great promptitude):—­Monsieur Philomene whispered to me that Honoria was the most disagreeable girl in Paris, Marie the dullest, and myself the prettiest.

M. PHILOMENE (in an agony of confusion):—­I beseech you, Mam’selle Honoria ...  I entreat you, Mam’selle Marie, not for an instant to suppose....

MDLLE.  HONORIA (drawing herself up and smiling acidly):—­Oh, pray do not give yourself the trouble to apologize, Monsieur Philomene.  Your opinion, I assure you, is not of the least moment to either of us.  Is it, Marie?

But the fair Marie only smiled good-naturedly, and said:—­

“I know I am not clever.  Monsieur Philomene is quite right; and I am not at all angry with him.”

“But—­but, indeed, Mesdemoiselles, I—­I—­am incapable....” stammered the luckless tenor, wiping the perspiration from his brow.  “I am incapable....”

“Silence in the circle!” cried Mueller, authoritatively.  “Private civilities are forbidden by the rules of the game.  I call Monsieur Philomene to order, and I demand from him the secret of Madame de Montparnasse.”

M. Philomene looked even more miserable than before.

“I—­I ... but it is an odious position!  To betray the confidence of a lady ...  Heavens!  I cannot.”

“The secret!—­the secret!” shouted the others, impatiently.

Madame de Montparnasse pursed up her parchment lips, glared upon us defiantly, and said:—­

“Pray don’t hesitate about repeating my words, M’sieur Philomene.  I am not ashamed of them.”

M. PHILOMENE (reluctantly):—­Madame de Montparnasse observed to me that what she particularly disliked was a mixed society like—­like the present; and that she hoped our friend Madame Marotte would in future be less indiscriminate in the choice of her acquaintances.

MULLER (with elaborate courtesy):—­We are all infinitely obliged to Madame de Montparnasse for her opinion of us—­(I speak for the society, as leader of the circle)—­and beg to assure her that we entirely coincide in her views.  It rests with Madame to carry on the game, and to betray the confidence of Monsieur Dorinet.

MADAME DE MONTPARNASSE (with obvious satisfaction):—­Monsieur Dorinet told me that Rosalie Desjardin’s legs were ill-made, and that she would never make a dancer, though she practised from now till doomsday.

M. DORINET (springing to his feet as if he had been shot):—­Heavens and earth!  Madame de Montparnasse, what have I done that you should so pervert my words?  Mam’selle Rosalie—­ma chere eleve, believe me, I never....

“Silence in the circle!” shouted Mueller again.